Crown pinion gear drive for model railroad

ABSTRACT

An improvement over the conventional worn gear drives for model railroads so to overcome the bucking and locking caused with worn gear drive, the device comprising a drive shaft with a pinion gear affixed thereto, the pinion gear engaging a crown gear integral and an axial alignment as one unit with a pinion gear engaging a main drive gear from which several drive gears take off power for transmitting to the wheels of a locomotive of a model railroad.

U Umted States Patent 91 [111 3,745,849 Matte July 17, 1973 [54] CROWN-PINION GEAR DRIVE FOR MODEL 2,968,971 1/1961 Beadle et al. 74/421 R X RAILROAD 3,199,372 8/1965 Kugel 74/665 GA 3,163,123 12/1964 Ziroli 74/416 X 1 Inventorr Roger Matte, General y. 3,350,953 11/1967 Stewart 74/412 x Zephyr, Ontario, Canada [22] Filed: Man 29, 1971 Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin [21] Appl. No.: 128,921 [57] ABSTRACT An improvement over the conventional worn gear [52] us. Cl. 74/416 drives for model railroads $0 to overwme the bucking 511 1111.01. Fl6h 1/12 and locking caused with worn g drive. the device 581 Field of Search 74/416, 412 R, 665 GA comprising a drive Shaft with a pinion gear affixed thereto, the pinion gear engaging a crown gear integral [56] References Ci and an axial alignment as one unit with a pinion gear UNITED STATES PATENTS engaging a main drive gear from which several drive 455 54 6/189] B mes M x gears take off power for transmitting to the wheels of a 2,807,052 9 1957 Longstreet. 74 412 X locomot've of mode] 2,871,724 2/1959 Dencc 74/665 GA 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures CROWN-PINION GEAR DRIVE FOR MODEL RAILROAD This invention relates generally to drive mechanisms for model railroads.

It is generally well known to those skilled in the art of model railroading than in use of a conventional worn gear drive, there is considerable bucking and locking when the train consists of a heavy load of from 20 to 40 cars and is descending a grade along the track. What occurs is that the motor current is very little, and with the motor magnets also acting as a brake through its pole locks the worn drive. This is a of course objectionable and therefore in want of an improvement.

Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a new type of crown pinion gear drive that overcomes the above objection, because it provides a direct drive instead.

Another object is to provide a crown pinion gear drive wherein the current draw is minimized by 25 percent, as the friction is not as great as with a worn gear drive that is pulling a heavy load.

Yet another object is to provide a crown pinion gear drive wherein motor synchronization is perfect, and which cannot be attained with a worn gear drive when two, three or more locomotives couple together.

Yet another object is to provide a crown pinion gear drive which eliminates the need to purchase a high priced transistor throttle with momentum control, with flywheel effect, and the like.

Yet another object is to provide a crown pinion gear drive wherein just an ordinary, inexpensive transformer rectifier is adaquate to get the results equivalent to use of a transistor throttle.

Yet a further object is to provide a crown pinion gear drive which is also adaptable for diesel equipment model railroading.

Other objects are to provide a CROWN PINION GEAR DRIVE FOR MODEL RAILROADS which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a crown pinion gear drive for model railroads according to the present invention, wherein there is a pinion shaft 11 having a pinion gear 12 secured thereto, the pinion gear 12 toothingly engaging a crown gear 13 that is integral with a pinion gear 14 as one integral unit along a common axis of a singular shaft. The pinion gear 14 toothingly engages a drive gear 15 which in turn engages an idler gear 16 that engage a drive gear 17. The drive gear engages a drive gear 18 to a wheel of the locomotive. The drive gear 15 also directly engages drive gears 19 and 20 to the wheels 26 of the locomotive. The idler wheel 16 is mounted on shaft 21, while drive wheels l7, l8, l9 and 20 are mounted on shafts 22, 23 24 and 25 respectively, as shown. Drive gear 15 is on a shaft 27 while the crown gear shaft is identified by the reference numeral 28.

It is to be noted that the pinion gear 12 and the crown gear 13 are l to 4 ratio.

The drawing is shown for a six wheel truck construction, but could be adapted for any number of otTsets such as 4, 8 or the like. The invention could be adapted for any gauge of model railroad.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is to be understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A gear drive for a model locomotive comprising a pinion shaft having a pinion gear engaging a crown gear whose axis is transverse to the pinion gear, said crown gear being integral and concentric with a second pinion gear, wherein said second pinion gear engages a main drive gear engaged by several spaced smaller drive gears having axis parallel to said main drive gear, said smaller drive gears actuating several locomotive. wheel units on axis transverse to said drive gears. 

1. A gear drive for a model locomotive comprising a pinion shaft having a pinion gear engaging a crown gear whose axis is transverse to the pinion gear, said crown gear being integral and concentric with a second pinion gear, wherein said second pinion gear engages a main drive gear engaged by several spaced smaller drive gears having axis parallel to said main drive gear, said smaller drive gears actuating several locomotive wheel units on axis transverse to said drive gears. 